Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In the coming days, weeks and months, our Churches around the New Mexico Conference will be offered another opportunity to practice radical hospitality as tens of thousands of Afghan individuals and families are now entering the United States for resettlement purposes. They are holders of Special Immigrant Visas (SIV’s) for aiding the United States military mission in Afghanistan for almost 20 years. A team of leaders and their congregations from our Conference are organizing efforts to be part of those welcoming Afghans families and individuals into their communities.

Bishop Bledsoe has issued his support of these efforts by stating, “The Scriptures (both Old and New Testament) are clear as to our response to the sojourner or refugee in our midst. We are to care for them as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our church founder John Wesley suggests we do no harm, but do good to all. As United Methodists we not only have a responsibility but an obligation to help those in need, but expressly the stranger in our midst. My prayer and support is with all those who feed, clothe and shelter those in need in the name of Jesus Christ!”

I join with Bishop Bledsoe and those leading us in heeding a Call to Action as some of our cities around our Conference will be chosen for the resettlement of many SIV’s. Kristen Bowdre, who drafted our Call to Action (stated below) is our Executive Director of JFON-El Paso. Kristen is a Deaconess who has worked in immigrant serving organizations professionally for the past 10 years, including at Annunciation House as a volunteer and board member and as an Accredited Representative at Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services in El Paso. Kristen is joined by a number of our clergy and lay leaders who are knowledgeable and experienced in working with the organizations and agencies that serve immigrants and refugees.

This is not just a humanitarian response, but an action based on our Christian principles. Remember that when we show hospitality to strangers, we may be entertaining angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). We will be communicating more specifically how you, your family and your church can actively participate in this new expression of Radical Hospitality.

Rev. Dr. Eddie Rivera, Provost

It can be easy to watch the news and feel hopeless and helpless to do anything about these realities, even as Americans and Afghans are being evacuated, and planes are arriving in the US every day. Some of the Afghan refugees are arriving to our communities- at Ft. Bliss in El Paso and at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo.

As people of faith, many of the stories we read in the Bible that help us understand how to follow God and how to live in the world are stories about immigrants and refugees, including Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Jesus himself – a Middle Eastern refugee. God commands the Israelites in the Old Testament to “treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:34). They are instructed to welcome the stranger because they themselves were once strangers and were delivered from the land of Egypt. Most of us can trace in our own family’s lineage back to someone who came to the US from another country seeking a better life. And so, it is now our turn to welcome the stranger among us.

Friends, we have an opportunity to be a welcoming, hospitable presence to Afghan refugees in our community. To treat them as the native among us. When we come together as siblings in Christ, we have the opportunity to share in the inbreaking of the kin-dom of God. Our communities will be a better place with refugees in them, enhancing diversity of language, culture, ideas, and even ways of seeing God. Will you join me in responding?

There are several ways you can get involved.

There is a need for donations, both for supplies and for monetary donations. Please share this information and donation links with family, friends, colleagues…anyone who is called to help.

Supplies

Monetary Support

If you would like to provide monetary support, there are several ways you can donate.

Housing and Family Sponsorship

Currently, the areas within 100 miles of Las Cruces and Albuquerque (and possibly Odessa) are in urgent need of housing and secure facilities to host families. Those interested in sponsoring a family arriving in their community or providing in-kind support — including landlords able to rent housing to new arrivals — can fill out a form online or email volunteers@elcalvarioumc.org

Thank you for responding however you are able. Seeing the community mobilize to act as the hands and feet of Christ is what gives me hope, as we live out God’s commandment to love one another and experience God’s kin-dom on earth.

Kristen Bowdre

Executive Director, JFON El Paso

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Roselie Johnston, Ministry & Programs Coordinator at 505-255-8786, ext. 101 or rjohnston@nmconfum.com.